Medical device interface system
First Claim
1. An interface forming part of an instrument housing, said interface for securing the instrument housing to a mounting rail mounted to a surface, said interface comprising:
- a back panel;
a first portion protruding rearward from the back panel;
a first recess carried by the first protruding portion, the first recess dimensioned to receive the mounting rail; and
a rail cam rotatably mounted within the first protruding portion and aligned with the first recess to receive and retain the mounting rail.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interface device secures an instrument to a docking station having a casing having at least one signal port and a mounting rail mounted within a recessed portion of the casing. The signal ports may be power or data communications ports. A back panel forms part of an instrument housing for housing the instrument, a first portion protrudes rearward from the back panel and a first recess is carried by the protruding portion. The first recess is dimensioned to receive the mounting rail. A rail cam is rotatably mounted within the protruding portion and is aligned with the first recess to receive and retain the mounting rail and at least one first-portion signal port carried by the first portion. The first portion is dimensioned to fit within the recessed portion of the casing such that the rail cam is positioned to receive the mounting rail and the at least one first-portion signal port is aligned, in a complementary fashion, with the at least one casing signal port. A pole clamp assembly may be positioned near the first and second portions. A pivot member is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position and a post having an axis. The post is mounted to the pivot member for axial movement and mounted thereto such that when the pivot member is retracted the axis of the post is substantially parallel with the back panel and when the pivot member is extended the axis of the post is substantially perpendicular to the back panel.
203 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An interface forming part of an instrument housing, said interface for securing the instrument housing to a mounting rail mounted to a surface, said interface comprising:
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a back panel;
a first portion protruding rearward from the back panel;
a first recess carried by the first protruding portion, the first recess dimensioned to receive the mounting rail; and
a rail cam rotatably mounted within the first protruding portion and aligned with the first recess to receive and retain the mounting rail. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
a circular cam base having a surface substantially subflush with the first recess, the cam base mounted for pivotal movement within the circular cutout; and
two opposing arms near a periphery of the cam base, the arms extending substantially perpendicular relative the surface of the cam base, each arm having an arm base defining a lock surface, the arms positioned on the cam base such that the distance between the two lock surfaces is large enough to receive the mounting rail.
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3. The interface of claim 2 wherein each arm further comprises:
a guiding portion at the top of the arm base for contacting the mounting rail during insertion of the rail cam onto the mounting rail and transferring the force of contact with the mounting rail to the cam base to therein induce rotation of the rail cam.
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4. The interface of claim 3 wherein the mounting rail has a height and depth and the guiding portion of each arm comprises;
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a first portion sloping downward from a first height near an outer periphery of the arm base to a second height inward relative the outer periphery of the arm base, the second height being less than the first height; and
a second portion contiguous with the first portion and extending outward from the arm base above the lock surface and having a bottom and an end;
wherein the distance between the cam base and the bottom of the second portion is slightly greater than the depth of the mounting rail and the distance between the ends of opposing second portions is less than the height of the mounting rail.
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5. The interface of claim 4 wherein the first recess comprises:
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a top region defined by at least one substantially planar top surface and an arcuate top surface, the arcuate top surface further defining an arcuate top region; and
a bottom region defined by at least one substantially planar bottom surface and an arcuate bottom surface, the arcuate bottom surface further defining an arcuate bottom region;
wherein the rail cam has a closed/lock position during which the second portion of one of the arms is positioned above the at least one bottom surface and the second portion of the other arm is positioned below the at least one top surface, and the rail cam has an open/release position during which the second portion of one of the arms is positioned below the at least one bottom surface and the second portion of the other arm is positioned above the at least one top surface.
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6. The interface of claim 5 further comprising a lever coupled to the rail cam such that movement of the lever induces rotation of the rail cam between the closed/lock position and the opened/release position.
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7. The interface of claim 1 further comprising:
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a second portion protruding rearward from the back panel, the second protruding portion spaced a distance from the first protruding portion; and
a second recess carried by the second protruding portion, the second recess substantially aligned with the first recess and dimensioned to receive the mounting rail.
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8. The interface of claim 7 further comprising a pole clamp assembly positioned near the first and second protruding portions, said pole clamp comprising:
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a pivot member moveable between a retracted position and an extended position; and
a post having an axis, the post mounted to the pivot member for axial movement and mounted thereto such that when the pivot member is retracted the axis of the post is substantially parallel with the back panel and when the pivot member is extended the axis of the post is substantially perpendicular to the back panel.
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9. The interface of claim 8 wherein the back panel further comprises a pole clamp recess located between the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion, the pole clamp recess dimensioned and oriented to receive the post when the pivot member is in the retracted position such that the post is substantially flush with the back surfaces of the first recess and the second recess.
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10. The interface of claim 9 wherein the pole clamp recess is defined by a generally arcuate surface and the post comprises:
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a threaded stud; and
a handle having curved sides shaped to substantially match the curved shape of the arcuate surface, the handle positioned at one end of the stud such that when the pivot member is retracted a portion of the handle lies within the pole clamp recess.
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11. The interface of claim 10 wherein the handle further comprises rounded edges, wherein upon the application of force to the rounded edges the handle is rotated such that one of the curved sides of the handle generally aligns with the arcuate surface defining the pole clamp recess.
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12. The interface of claim 10 wherein the pole clamp assembly further comprises a bracket mounted to the back panel, the bracket having an stud recess and the pivot member comprises a generally L-shaped arm having a first leg and a second leg, the first leg mounted to the bracket for pivotal movement and the second leg for accepting the stud, the second leg positioned relative the first leg to extend into the area between the first and second portions of the back panel such that a portion of the stud lies within the post recess of the bracket.
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13. An interface device for securing an instrument to a docking station having a casing having at least one signal port and a mounting rail mounted within a recessed portion of the casing, said interface device comprising:
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a back panel forming part of an instrument housing for housing the instrument;
a first portion protruding rearward from the back panel;
a first recess carried by the first protruding portion, the first recess dimensioned to receive the mounting rail;
a rail cam rotatably mounted within the first protruding portion and aligned with the first recess to receive and retain the mounting rail; and
at least one first protruding portion signal port carried by the first protruding portion;
wherein the first protruding portion is dimensioned to fit within the recessed portion of the casing such that the rail cam is positioned to receive the mounting rail and the at least one first protruding portion signal port is aligned, in a complementary fashion, with the at least one casing signal port. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
a circular cam base having a surface substantially subflush with the first recess, the cam base mounted for pivotal movement within the circular cutout; and
two opposing arms near a periphery of the cam base, the arms extending substantially perpendicular relative the surface of the cam base, each arm having an arm base defining a lock surface, the arms positioned on the cam base such that the distance between the two lock surfaces is large enough to receive the mounting rail.
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15. The interface device of claim 14 wherein each arm further comprises:
a guiding portion at the top of the arm base for contacting the mounting rail during insertion of the rail cam onto the mounting rail and transferring the force of contact with the mounting rail to the cam base to therein induce rotation of the rail cam.
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16. The interface device of claim 15 wherein the mounting rail has a height and depth and the guiding portion of each arm comprises:
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a first portion sloping downward from a first height near an outer periphery of the arm base to a second height inward relative the outer periphery of the arm base, the second height being less than the first height; and
a second portion contiguous with the first portion and extending outward from the arm base a distance over the lock surface and having a bottom and an end;
wherein the distance between the cam base and the bottom of the second portion is substantially equal to the depth of the mounting rail and the distance between the ends of opposing second portions is less than the height of the mounting rail.
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17. The interface device of claim 16 wherein the first recess comprises:
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a top region defined by at least one substantially planar top surface and an arcuate top surface, the arcuate top surface further defining an arcuate top region; and
a bottom region defined by at least one substantially planar bottom surface and an arcuate bottom surface, the arcuate bottom surface further defining an arcuate bottom region;
wherein the rail cam has a closed/lock position during which the second portion of one of the arms is positioned above the at least one bottom surface and the second portion of the other arm is positioned below the at least one top surface, and the rail cam has an open/release position during which the second portion of one of the arms is positioned below the at least one bottom surface and the second portion of the other arm is positioned above the at least one top surface.
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18. The interface device of claim 17 further comprising a lever coupled to the rail cam such that movement of the lever induces rotation of the rail cam between the closed/lock position and the opened/release position.
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19. The interface device of claim 13 further comprising:
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a second portion protruding rearward from the back panel, the second protruding portion spaced a distance from the first protruding portion; and
a second recess carried by the second protruding portion, the second recess substantially aligned with the first recess and dimensioned to receive the mounting rail.
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20. The interface device of claim 19 further comprising a pole clamp assembly positioned near the first and second protruding portions, said pole clamp assembly comprising:
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a pivot member moveable between a retracted position and an extended position; and
a post having an axis, the post mounted to the pivot member for axial movement and mounted thereto such that when the pivot member is retracted the axis of the post is substantially parallel with the back panel and when the pivot member is extended the axis of the post is substantially perpendicular to the back panel.
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21. The interface device of claim 13 wherein the at least one first protruding portion signal port comprises a power inlet and the at least one casing signal port comprises a power outlet.
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22. The interface device of claim 21 wherein the casing comprises a relay for controlling the application of power to the power outlet when activated and the first protruding portion comprises a magnet positioned such that when the first protruding portion is within the recessed portion of the casing the magnet activates the relay.
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23. The interface device of claim 21 wherein the first protruding portion further comprises a roof protruding from the first protruding portion surface and positioned above the power outlet.
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24. The interface device of claim 13 wherein the at least one first protruding portion signal port comprises a data communications port.
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25. The interface device of claim 24 wherein the data communications port comprises an infrared (IR) port.
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26. The interface device of claim 13 wherein the casing and first protruding portion signal ports comprise a plurality of complementary signal ports.
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27. A rail cam forming part of an instrument housing, said rail cam for securing the instrument housing to a mounting rail mounted to a surface, the mounting rail having a height and depth, said rail cam comprising:
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a cam base having a surface, the cam base mounted for pivotal movement relative the remainder of the instrument housing;
two opposing arms near a periphery of the cam base, the arms extending substantially perpendicular relative the surface of the cam base, each arm having an arm base defining a lock surface, the arms positioned on the cam base such that the distance between the two lock surfaces is substantially equal to the height of the mounting rail; and
a guiding portion at the top of each arm base for contacting the mounting rail during insertion of the rail cam onto the mounting rail and transferring the force of contact with the mounting rail to the cam base to therein induce rotation of the rail cam from a closed/lock position to a opened/receive position during which the rail cam receives the mounting rail and subsequently removing the force from the cam base to allow rotation of the rail cam from the open/receive position to the closed/lock position during which the rail cam retains the mounting rail. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
a first portion sloping downward from a first height near an outer periphery of the arm base to a second height inward relative the outer periphery of the arm base, the second height being less than the first height; and
a second portion contiguous with the first portion and extending outward from the arm base a distance over the lock surface and having a bottom and an end;
wherein the distance between the cam base and the bottom of the second portion is substantially equal to the depth of the mounting rail and the distance between the ends of opposing second portions is less than the height of the mounting rail.
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29. The interface of claim 28 wherein during the closed/lock position the opposing lock surfaces are substantially parallel with the mounting rail and the second portions of each arm behind the mounting rail.
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30. The interface of claim 28 wherein during the open/receive position the opposing locking surfaces are at acute angles relative the mounting rail and the second portions are above and below the mounting rail respectively.
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31. The rail cam of claim 27 further comprising a lever coupled to the rail cam such that movement of the lever induces rotation of the rail cam between the closed/lock position and an open/release position during which the mounting rail may be removed from the rail cam, the open/release position being substantially the same as the open/receive position.
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32. A pole clamp assembly forming part of an instrument housing having a back panel with a pole clamp recess, said pole clamp assembly for securing the instrument housing to a pole, said pole clamp assembly comprising:
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a pivot member moveable between a retracted position and an extended position; and
a post having an axis, the post mounted to the pivot member for axial movement and mounted thereto such that when the pivot member is retracted the axis of the post is substantially parallel with the back panel and when the pivot member is extended the axis of the post is substantially perpendicular to the back panel, the post dimensioned and oriented such that when the pivot member is in the retracted position a portion of the post lies within the pole clamp recess. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
a threaded stud; and
a handle having opposing curved sides shaped to substantially match the curved shape of the arcuate surface, the handle positioned at one end of the stud such that when the pivot member is retracted a portion of the handle lies within the pole clamp recess.
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34. The pole clamp assembly of claim 33 wherein the handle further comprises opposing rounded edges, wherein upon the application of force to either of the rounded edges the handle is rotated such that one of the curved sides of the handle generally aligns with the arcuate surface defining the pole clamp recess.
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35. The pole clamp assembly of claim 32 further comprising a bracket mounted to the back panel, the bracket having a stud recess and wherein the pivot member comprises a generally L-shaped arm having a first leg and a second leg, the first leg mounted to the bracket for pivotal movement and the second leg for accepting the stud, the second leg positioned relative the first leg to extend into the area near the pole clamp recess such that a portion of the stud lies within the stud recess of the bracket.
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36. A device interface for securing an instrument to a docking station having a casing having a mounting rail mounted within an alignment portion of the casing, said interface device comprising:
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an alignment member forming part of an instrument housing for housing the instrument; and
a rail cam rotatably mounted to the instrument housing and configured to receive and retain the mounting rail;
wherein the alignment member interfaces with the alignment portion such that the rail cam is positioned to receive the mounting rail. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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Specification